Bayelsa APC hijacks guber primary, declares Sylva winner

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …

After a process marred by violence and irregularities, former Governor of Bayelsa State Timipre Sylva, has been declared winner of the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary.

This was after the State Working Committee (SWC) hijacked the process from the national electoral committee of the party.

Members of the national electoral committee led by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, fled the venue and abandoned the exercise following irregularities, violence and intimidation.

It was learnt that the SWC continued with the election from which Sylva emerged winner.

He was said to have been declared winner by a member of the APC electoral committee identified as Nelson Alabar.

He reportedly polled 726 votes to defeat his closest rival and former member of the House of Representative, Mr. Warman Ogoriba, who was said to have scored 10 votes.

Read also: Bayelsa: Why l joined guber race, by Sylva

The former NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Timi Alaibe, who among some other delegates had left the venue, was reportedly awarded four votes.

Sylva described his emergence as a proof of the indivisibility of the APC in the state and the national level.

He said: “I have never been so proud in my life. I have belonged to many political parties such as the defunct UNCP and the nearly dead PDP.

“But I am very proud of the APC with a very clear internal democracy.

“A few years ago, I was unjustly stopped from contesting a governorship primary by my former party.

“My former party did that to me. A few days ago, they disqualified a serving senator from contesting.

“It is shameful. I have once again gone through a primary and emerged winner. It is contests like this that makes the difference.

“It is this contest that makes the difference between the APC and others. There is no doubt that we will win the election.”

Ogoriba, who purportedly spoke on behalf of other aspirants, was said to have accepted defeat and commended the winner, Sylva.

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